Internet trolls on Wednesday went after a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and presidential campaign spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 elections, Daniel Bwala, following his meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
This is after Bwala pledged his total support for the President and informed the State House correspondents that visiting the Presidential Villa was at the invitation of President Tinubu.
“I honoured the invitation of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is a father to the nation, whom God has given the opportunity to lead the country at this difficult time, so I came to celebrate and congratulate him.
Fully declaring his availability to work with the President Tinubu-led administration after the closed-door meeting, Bwala said; “I also gave him my commitment that as citizens of this country, this is the time for us to throw our weight behind and support the administration.”
Bwala, who particularly expressed excitement about recent policy decisions taken by the President to demonstrate that he is people-oriented and not just protecting his team, also applauded President Tinubu for going against certain ministers alleged to have “committed infractions.”
On whether his support for the President will see him leaving the PDP to rejoin the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bwala said his visit to the President was as a private citizen, adding that “God knows tomorrow. I told him today, that I am committing to play my part to support your administration, and I have no apologies to anybody. APC is a party. President Bola Tinubu is my motivation; if supporting him will take me to APC, so be it.”
According to him; “Well, I am here as a private citizen who must be bound by the conviction we have towards our country and the need for us to push the country to a better place that we all desire. So, I am not here in the capacity of PDP, first of all, I am not even a leader in the PDP, I am a private citizen.
“But you must also admit that I have had my history with the President when I was in APC, before the primaries I was practically his key spokesman at the time and I supported his course because I believed in him.
“I am also here to say that I am supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in achieving the objectives of tackling the problems in the country. I don’t think at this time of hunger and problems in the country somebody should be here talking about party and as per defection God knows tomorrow.”
Further commenting on the visit via some posts on his X handle, Bwala expressed delight at the opportunity and shared a picture of the handshake he had with Mr President as well as a 13-second clip of the event.
He wrote thus; “Today, I was delighted to meet @officialABAT, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, (GCFR) in the Villa to show appreciation and support for the bold decisions he is taking to deal with the crisis confronting our dear country.”
Expectedly, the post has continued to attract reactions from Nigerians, who took to the comment section to express divergent views on the development. Some of such comments from Internet trolls are captured below:
@RealAlmoner: “A man without honour, a man without convictions, a man who is controlled by his stomach. Shame on you @BwalaDaniel. You couldn’t even stick to @atiku for one year after a failed bid for the presidency. Ha! Political jobber, political ashaworism, political stomach infrastructure. Shame!”
@mrdaudaphilemon: “Baba! Bwala outrightly refused Tinubu’s offer to be his spokesperson because his beliefs didn’t agree with the same faith ticket. Now it’s time to govern and any authentic progressive will offer their services in contribution to move the country forward. Opposition is not enmity.”
@Ayodejison: “Despite the fact that I don’t want to believe what I am reading and seeing online, I am disappointed. But nevertheless, I can’t rule out phishy games from APC to keep you quiet. People with 2 wide mouths like yours are people they need to continue spreading their hopeless lies.”
@IamThatNaijaGuy: “Just listen to yourself. If Bwala couldn’t join Tinubu bcos his beliefs didn’t agree with the same faith ticket, what then changed after Tinubu seized power through the backdoor? Shetimma became a Christian?
@IamThatNaijaGuy said: “Atiku’s circle comprised individuals like Daniel Bwala and Reno O’mockery, who lacked genuine belief in his vision. Their allegiance rested solely on personal gain, leaving them scrambling for alternative opportunities as Atiku ceased funding. They are now desperately looking for new gigs. I knew PDP died the day they jettisoned their age-long tradition of zoning and allowed Peter Obi to leave the party.”
@ehimotor: “In politics, there’s no permanent friend, no permanent enemy but permanent interest. Nigerians, don’t fight yourselves because of politics.”
@delaq1829: “For those of you accusing him of being a political jobber you’re not correct at all. it’s just because you guys don’t know him at all and the kind of bond he shared with Mr, President long before the elections. It’s only if you know you know If it didn’t Dey it didn’t dey.”
@MissPeals: “You speak from both sides of your mouth Bwala, you are as unstable as the sea. No serious-minded person should ever take you seriously. Ever!”
@dammygtnet: “Corn dun dey your pocket. Atiku should be seen as an experienced politician but he keeps assembling funny people around him. Zero loyalty!”
@YarKafanchan: “Daniel Bwala this is barely 7 months into the 4 years o. You no fit stand firm?”
@AdewaleHamzat10, who wrote on “Consistency finishes what intensity started” said; “I’ve always known he & Okupe were going to re-jump ship. Hunger is a major driving force for decisions in Nigeria. These men need to feed, they are hungry.”
Ahead of the February 25, 2023 presidential election, Bwala was among those who dumped the APC following the Muslim-Muslim ticket debacle, insisting that the development was no “good news for the APC.”
